Important Modern and Vintage Timepieces

Hong Kong, Jun 23, 2012

LOT 397

ROLEX, REF.5514, COMEX SUBMARINER Rolex, ?Oyster Perpetual, Submariner, 660ft=200m?, case No. 5346055, Ref. 5514/5513. Made in 1977. Fine and very rare, water-resistant, center seconds, self-winding, stainless steel diver's wristwatch with first generation helium escape valve and a stainless steel Rolex Oyster fliplock bracelet. Accompanied by its service warranty and fitted box.

HKD 200,000 - 260,000

USD 26,000 - 34,000 / EUR 20,000 - 30,000

C. Three-body, polished and brushed, screw-down case back, screwdown triplock crown with Crown Guard, graduated bi-directional revolving black bezel for the decompression times, helium escape valve, later case back. D. Black with applied white gold luminous round, triangular and baton indexes, outer minute/second divisions. Luminous steel skeleton hands. M. Cal. 1520, rhodium-plated, 26 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock-absorber, self-compensating fl at balance spring, hack mechanism. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 40 mm. Thickness 14 mm. Approx. overall length 205 mm.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 3-8

Good

Slightly scratched
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

The Ref. 5514 was a COMEX specifi c watch, which was never available to the general public. Due to the extreme conditions in which the COMEX divers operated, every six months the watches were sent back to Rolex for an overhaul. These watches were not just meticulously overhauled but in many cases were upgraded each time the watch returned to Rolex. Former COMEX divers have reported that some of the earlier Ref. 5514 watches did not have the COMEX logo on the dial, such as this example and that when these watches were sent to Rolex for service, on request they were replaced by Rolex with the later gloss tritium or luminova dials, some bearing the COMEX logo. This particular watch during one of its routine services probably had its original caseback substituted by a regular caseback.